Finding A Job

Working is a common activity, yet finding the right job is often a difficult task - so much so that endless resources exist to make the process easy and understandable.

Here are some tips from the College Fund to help you land the perfect job. They may not be new or life changing tips, but they are solid steps that may make your job search more fruitful.

Networking Tell people what you want to do. Pick something special to highlight about yourself and your interests. Once you have that down, tell everyone you meet. Talk to family members, friends, community members, and professionals. They may offer good advice or a direction you have not considered for your future.

+ Create an elevator speech (view a sample at CollegeFund.org/ elevatorspeech).

+ Go to career fairs.

+ Join a professional association and attend their meetings.

+ Build a profile on the College Fund’s CONNECT platform and connect with professionals from a variety of industries (CollegeFund.org/CONNECT).

Technology Start your job search once you have an idea of how you want to contribute to the work world. The Internet is loaded with great resources to find employment, information on salaries, benefits, and job responsibilities. You can also use social media to build your professional presence.

+ Use websites like indeed.com and College Fund’s CONNECT platform to find possible employment.

+ Use websites like glassdoor.com, careerbuilder.com, and ziprecruiter.com to find human resource information for a variety of jobs.

+ Use LinkedIn and Facebook to create a professional presence that highlights your community engagement and professional interests.

Research Search for companies that interest you. If you want to work for Google, you need to be able to explain why. You must learn more about the company, and connect that knowledge to your interest in an interview. Native people are committed to values such as family and community, so you should learn if a potential employer shares those values.

+ Conduct professional informational interviews (CONNECT is a tool created to do just that).

+ Visit a company’s website to learn more about their mission, vision, goals, and strategic plan.

+ Look for value-added information on a company such as "best place to work" or "community commitment."

Think Outside The Box Set yourself apart from other applicants. This may be as simple as sending a thank-you note after your interview. It may be asking a smart question about the position or the company. Be aware that your cover letter and résumé are the most important part of landing a job. They are the first thing, and sometimes the only thing, that gets you in the door.

+ Apply to a job even if you do not completely fit all the requirements. (Studies show that men will apply for a job when they meet only some of the requirements, while most women won’t apply unless they meet all of the job requirements).

+ Build relationships with potential employers. Ask thoughtful questions, send thank-you notes, and connect your interest with their company goals.

+ Review and update résumé language to align your attributes with a position, and the company’s mission and values.

Native Scholar Internship Experiences

Institute of American Indian Arts student Tyler “Blue” Tarpalechee (Muscogee Creek) found an internship and a job through a student film competition at the AIHEC Student Conference. A judge took notice of his talent. “You don’t think of the student competitions as having a lasting impact, but the judge was a CEO and got me an internship that led to a job after graduation. I was one of the few students that not only graduated with a job – but with one in my field! None of that would have happened if I didn’t put myself out there.”